Machine for reeling wire



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR REELING WIRE.

No. 405,376. Patented June 18, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet; 2. H. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR REELING WIRE. I No. 405,376. Patented June 18, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR REELING WIRE. No. 405,376. Patented June 18, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT SMITH, OF IVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR REELING WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,376, dated June 18, 1889.

Application filed December 17, 1888. Serial No. 293,883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT SMITH, of the city and county of WVorcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blocks for Reeling WVire; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a wire-reeling frame in plan view, with two of my improved blocks applied thereto. Fig. 2 thereof, showing the wire partially coiled thereon. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the block or reel. Fig. at is a front end view of said block or reel; and Figs. 5, 6, '7, and 8 are detached views of different parts of the block, hereinafter more fully described.

Heretofore wire-blocks have been made and the Wire wound thereon in such manner as to form uneven coils with the separate coils or fakes thereof wound one over another, and therefore of different diameters or sizes. By this mode of winding the wire it is evident that an uneven strain is produced thereon in operation, the draft or strain upon said wire being increased in proportion to the diamet rical enlargement of the coil in the winding,

operation, as aforesaid. In thus coiling the wire at certain stages in the process of its manufacture this constitutes quite a serious disadvantage, as is well known to those skilled in the art, a steady even draft being under all circumstances desirable to produce wire of uniform size, smoothness, and good quality. Furthermore, the operation of cutting a piece of wire and removing it from the main coil when thus wound unevenly is attended with considerable difficulty, as all telegraph and telephone men or others using the same will attest. It is therefore desirable that the wire be wound in even regular coils of equal diameters, so that any length may be cut and removed therefrom with the least possible trouble and delay. To accomplish this re sult, as well as others which will be referred to later, is the purpose of myinvention,which consists in making the block preferably with a series of radial arms, upon which the wire isan end elevation may be wound in even coils side by side, and arranging at the outer ends thereof, within the block, suitable adjustable mechanism, whereby a series of holding-pins maybe projected laterally. beyond the outer surface of said block to prevent the wire from slipping therefrom in the coiling operation, and which may be drawn in or removed to allow the completed coil to be removed from the block, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

My improved block is designed more especially for coiling the wire in the galvanizing and tempering processes, but is equally applicable at other stages in the treatment or after said wire is finished.

In order that others may better understand the nature and purpose of my said invention, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, A represents an ordinary wire-reeling frame, having two of my improved blocks or reels B B, mounted on suitable shafts C O, fitted to turn in proper bearings in said frame, said shafts being driven from a cone-pulley D on shaft D through the pinion E, secured on said pulley-shaft, and the large spur-gears F F, secured on shafts C O. The driving-power may be shipped and 'unshipped to and from the blocks B B by means of clutches G G, operated by the levers G G.

Any other driving and clutch mechanism may be employed in lieu of the above, if desired, in connection with my improved blocks, the construction of said blocks constituting, as previously stated, the only feature of my present invention.

Aside from the adjustable means employed for preventing the wire from slipping off of the end of the block, said block is made similar to other blocks used on machines for reeling up wire. It is intended more especially, however, to take the place of the old style of reeling-blocks having a plain, unbroken, concave, or similar-shaped surface without radial arms, and hence the application of the term block in this instance.

Although it may at first appear that the application of such adjustable holding device to the block or reel is of comparatively little importance, it is found in practice to be not only a useful but necessary adjunct in carrying out the purpose of my invention, and effects a result not attainable without such provision for keeping the wire from slipping off. 7

The spring-holding device shown in the drawings is constructed and operated in the following manner: A frame I), having radial arms I), radiating from a central hub c, is arranged within the block at a short distance from its outer end, and the outer ends of said radial arms I) are fastened to the arms 13 of the block to hold said block-arms in a rigid position. The frame also serves as a pivot-bearing for a transverse disk d, arranged in front thereof, the same being fitted to turn on a stud or pin e, held in the hub c of said frame, as is best shown in Fig. 3. To said central disk, near the edge thereof, are pivoted the series of radial pins or rods at, extending through suitable transverse openings formed in the outer ends of the blockarms B. In this instance short brackets g are secured to the face of the disk and the inner ends of the pins or rods pivoted to the outer ends thereof; but I do not limit myself to the said construction.

By the above construction it is obvious that by turning the disk a short distance in one direction the pins or rods a may be drawn in, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, to allow the wire coil. to be drawn off, and by reversing the operation they are forced out to prevent the wire from slipping off during the coiling operation. The disk may be thus turned by means of suitable handles g g, projecting forward from said disk.

In order that the disk may be held automatically after each of said rotary movements, and said motions also controlled so that it may not be turned too far in either direction, I combine a spring device therewith, consisting of a spring-rod h, pivoted at one end to a rigid bearing t, branching out from one of the arms b, and at its other end fitted to work longitudinally in a swivel j, held in the edge of the disk, the spring being arranged over the rod between the rigid pivotbearing and said swivel. Consequently a constant pressure is produced against the disk to hold it from turning backwhen turned in either direction to bring the swivel j at one side or the other of the central line between the disk-pivot and said spring-rod pivot. The rotary movements are controlled by securing a collar is on the swivel end of the springrod,which strikes and holds against the swivel j when arriving at its extreme point in either direction, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The above construction, it will be apparent, allows of the holding-pins being drawn in very quickly, which admits of said operation being performed while the block or reel is in motion, the same, as is well known, turning quite slowly in the galvanizing or tempering processes. As the wire is wound upon said block in single coils lying side by side, as shown in Fig. 2, it will also be apparent that the operation of severing the wire when a sufficient amount has been deposited thereon to form the desired sized coil, fastening the end of the wire being coiled, and removing the severed coil may be readily performed while the block is in motion. Therefore said block may be run continuously, and consequently produces but little of what are termed shorts.

A large saving in labor is effected, as one attendant is enabled to serve a larger number of blocks than when made in the old way, he not being obliged to stop and unload the block when the wire arrives at the point to be cut apart or to be spliced, said operations being performed while the block is in motion.

The wire is wound upon my improved block next to its hub-flange B and as each single coil is deposited thereon next to said flange the others are pushed along toward the outer end of said block, thus forming continuous coils side by side of uniform size, and which may be conveniently handled, as previously stated. Being thus coiled, a steady uniform speed or draft upon the wire is maintained throughout, which, as will at once be manifest, is a desirable and essential quality, as the wire may not only be more easily manipulated, but more perfectly and expeditiously cleaned, as the acid usually employed for that purpose may reach all parts of the wire at once, thus reducing the time that it is required to remain in said acid, which is a most essential feature, as is well understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, practical experience having demonstrated the fact that a better grade of wire may thereby be produced.

Although I have shown and described the block as being provided with arms B, it will be understood that my invention is applicable to blocks having the body thereof made of sheet metal or otherwise to produce a 1101- low body of substantially the shape shown in the drawings.

Having described said invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a block for reeling wire, the combination of the arms B thereof, having transverse openings in their outer ends, with the frame 5, provided with a central pivot-bolt and having radial arms secured at their outer ends to the arms B, the transverse disk 02, pivoted on said central bolt of the frame, and the radial holding-arms a, pivoted to said disk and extending through the transverse openings in the outer ends of arms B, substantially as set forth.

2. In a block for reeling wire, the combination of the arms B thereof and frame 1), secured thereto, with the transverse disk d, pivoted to said frame Z), the radial holding-rods a, pivoted to said disk, and whose outer ends fit and are adapted to slide in transverse openings in the arms B, and the spring-rod h, pivoted at one end to the frame I) and at its in combination with a series of radial transverse holding-rods adapted to fit at their outer ends in transverse openings in the outer ends of the aforesaid longitudinal arms, and having means whereby said rods may be held with their outer ends projecting laterally outside of the block, substantially as set forth.

HERBERT SMITH.

Witnesses:

A. A. BARKER, W. B. NOURSE. 

